Cubic TDLAS Methane Sensor For Biogas Plants Application

Biogas plants, as dedicated facilities for the conversion of organic waste into renewable energy, inherently involve significant safety risks associated with methane, the principal constituent of biogas. Due to the low lower explosive limit and high flammability, methane leakage and accumulation in confined or poorly ventilated environments may readily result in fire or explosion incidents, posing severe threats to human safety, critical infrastructure, and operational continuity.

Throughout the operational chain, including feedstock pretreatment, anaerobic digestion, gas storage, and energy utilization, potential leakage pathways exist in pretreatment tanks, digester surroundings, gas storage facilities, boiler houses, and central control rooms. Failures such as equipment corrosion, pipe rupture, flange seal degradation, or valve malfunction frequently constitute primary causes of methane release. In particular, confined spaces and process junctions exacerbate the risks, as leaked gas tends to accumulate and disperse inadequately. The conventional inspection or manual patrols with mobile detectors are often insufficient for timely detection, as they rely on manual operation and cannot provide 24-hour continuous coverage, leading to potential monitoring gaps and the risk of missed detections. Methane leaks are often sudden and unpredictable. If methane leaks occur between inspections and accumulate in a confined space, they can easily reach the lower explosive limit, causing a serious accident.

Accordingly, it is indispensable to deploy more reliable methane leakage detection approach for ensuring the safe operation of biogas plants.  Cubic, a leading manufacturer of gas sensors and gas analyzers, has launched the high-performance Gasboard-2501 methane sensor based on TDLAS (Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy) technology, which is well-suited for fixed-point monitoring applications and enables real-time methane detection and rapid warning in critical areas.

Adopting a narrow-band tunable laser source, specialized gas chambers, and optimized optical path design, the Cubic Gasboard-2501 provides superior methane selectivity and strong resistance to interference from water vapor and other gases, even under complex background conditions or high humidity, ensuring highly accurate and stable measurements. It delivers a measurement accuracy of ±5%LEL across a 0–100%LEL range and operates reliably between -25°C ~+55°C, and 0~98%RH (Non-condensing).

Gasboard-2501 offers fast response times, capturing rapid fluctuations in methane concentration, enabling operators to take prompt action during the early stages of a leak. With the inherent stability of laser-based detection, the sensor supports long-term operation with minimal drift and a service life exceeding ten years, significantly reducing maintenance and recalibration requirements. Its robust design and great stability makes it suitable for continuous, long-term industrial monitoring.

Designed for integration into stationary gas detection systems at biogas facilities, Gasboard-2501 can trigger automatic safety measures upon methane leak monitoring, including activating emergency ventilation fans to rapidly dilute leaked gas below explosive limits, automatically shutting off main biogas supply valves to isolate the source, and interlocking boiler shutdown to eliminate potential ignition sources. Currently, compliant with ATEX and IECEx Ex ia IIC T4 Ga standards, Gasboard-2501 features intrinsic safety for operation in hazardous zones and can be installed across all critical areas within a biogas plant, including digesters, gas storage tanks, boiler rooms, valve pits, and gas piping networks.

With the features of high accuracy, rapid response, strong anti-interference capability and long lifetime, Cubic Gasboard-2501 TDLAS methane sensor enables operators to build intelligent, networked stationary monitoring systems within biogas facilities, allowing real-time detection of potential leaks, enhancing personnel safety, minimizing economic loss, and supporting sustainable, long-term operation in biogas facilities.

For more product information or technical specifications, please contact: sales@gassensor.com.cn or visit the website: https://www.cubic-methane-detection.com/